Several entries back I mentioned The First Spaceship on Venus in reference to set design. Well I went to Amazon to order a new copy for myself and found out that the versions available can vary wildly in quality. If you plan to check it out, here is the one you want: http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Star-Yoko-Tani/dp/B0009PW3TC/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1238120734&sr=8-1
The quality is absolutely stunning, and it is subtitled, rather than the dreadful English dubbing that is available on the lesser quality versions. Includes background info, and image galleries!
Thanks for the box image, our local store has got SILENT STAR for rental, and I’ve been on the fence about it for months, wondering it if is the ‘right’ version. I’ve had a couple friends swear by these Soviet space epics, but have only seen the English overdubbed versions on Saturday afternoon television up to this point.
one more thing … is this one of the pics that the Skotaks wrote about in AC? There is supposed to be a great hover-type car in one of these.
Mr. Martin, there is a hover-type car in “Silent Star,” but I think the Skotaks might have been referencing the Soviet sci-fi “Planeta Bur,” which I have only seen in re-edited form (by Peter Bogdanovich!) with new intercalary segments starring a weary Basil Rathbone and Faith “This Island Earth” Domergue.
I think this might be the real deal, but it’s hard to say with these kinds of movies (most releases tend to be cheap conversions of low quality): http://www.amazon.com/Planeta-Bur-Planet-Storms-Russian/dp/B000CBQHYK
Quite well known, I reckon, is Solyaris, which was also remade once with George Clooney. Very serene and beautiful, definitely shades of 2001. http://www.amazon.com/Solaris-Criterion-Collection-Natalya-Bondarchuk/dp/B00006L92F/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1238149507&sr=8-1
A more obscure Russian scifi/comedy/cult movie is Kin-dza-dza!: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin-dza-dza!
I don’t think there are any American or European releases of this movie, so you’ll have be.. “creative” to find this one. But it’s well worth it! It’s at least as crazy as the Hitchhiker’s Guide!
Ooooo, thanks for the re-con heads-up on that Doug, ’cause as a collector, essential type of info to have/know, eh.
PLL,
deg
I always wanted to get a DVD of First Spaceship on Venus but had been hesitant because I read somewhere that the DVD version is a cut up version of the original, with a lot of scenes missing.
So I have been hoping it might resurface one day in it’s entirety, much like the [hopefully] soon to be released, completely restored [ALL missing footage found and restored-finally] Metropolis!
You can’t judge a book by it’s cover though. The DVD cover for Conquest of Space suggests a lousy quality cheap thing but it is a great high quality full colour print in it’s original 16/9 format- complete with slightly altered versions of the Von Braun mars Gliders and Wheel shaped Space Station- and Bonestell matte paintings too!
Silent Star is actually one I haven’t heard of before but now I must see it
Au
Ooo, good to know that too Aurore, thanks!
PLL,
deg
So if I understand it correctly, the video box Doug has displayed here IS the full uncut version of First Spaceship on Venus, only with a different title? Or am I missing something?
“First Spaceship on Venus” is, properly speaking, AFAIK, the title of the American dubbed and recut version.
The original movie was called “Der Schweigende Stern”/”Milcząca Gwiazda”. It was an East German/Polish production. In West Germany, the movie was originally called “Raumshiff Venus antwortet nicht” (“Spaceship Venus does not answer”?).
“Silent Star” is simply the English translation of the original title “Der Schweigende Stern”.